Best Time to Dive in California
4 dive areas, each scored on its own. The season peaks June–October at Catalina Island, the Channel Islands and La Jolla / San Diego, and July–October at Monterey. You can dive from the shore at Catalina Island, La Jolla / San Diego and Monterey; at the Channel Islands it is boat only. The one that asks for experience is the Channel Islands.
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catalina Island | January: Off season | February: Off season | March: Off season | April: Off season | May: Moderate | June: Good | July: Good | August: Good | September: Good | October: Good | November: Moderate | December: Off season |
| Channel Islands | January: Off season | February: Off season | March: Off season | April: Off season | May: Moderate | June: Good | July: Good | August: Good | September: Good | October: Good | November: Moderate | December: Off season |
| La Jolla / San Diego | January: Off season | February: Off season | March: Off season | April: Moderate | May: Moderate | June: Good | July: Good | August: Good | September: Good | October: Good | November: Moderate | December: Off season |
| Monterey | January: Off season | February: Off season | March: Off season | April: Off season | May: Off season | June: Moderate | July: Good | August: Good | September: Good | October: Good | November: Off season | December: Off season |
California compared
| Dive area | Best time | Water | Visibility | Dived from | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catalina Island | Jun–Oct | 15–21 °C | 15–30 m | shore diving and day boat | Open Water |
| Channel Islands | Jun–Oct | 14–20 °C | 10–25 m | liveaboard and day boat | experienced divers |
| La Jolla / San Diego | Jun–Oct | 15–22 °C | 5–20 m | shore diving and day boat | Open Water |
| Monterey | Jul–Oct | 12–16 °C | 0–15 m | shore diving | experienced divers |
Water and visibility are the whole year's range at each area, coldest month to warmest. Visibility is estimated from satellite chlorophyll-a.
Which area to pick
- Catalina Island
- Best from June to October. Same season as the Channel Islands and La Jolla / San Diego. It has the clearest water, up to 30 m and suits Open Water divers.
- Channel Islands
- Best from June to October. Same season as Catalina Island and La Jolla / San Diego. It is for experienced divers and is dived only from liveaboards and day boats.
- La Jolla / San Diego
- Best from June to October. Same season as Catalina Island and the Channel Islands. It suits Open Water divers.
- Monterey
- Best from July to October. It has the lowest visibility, 0–15 m, is for experienced divers and is dived only from the shore.
California month by month
Two or more areas are good at once in June to October: the time to combine them in one trip.
- Jan–Mar
- Nowhere at its best.
- Apr
- Nowhere at its best; La Jolla / San Diego is workable.
- May
- Nowhere at its best; Catalina Island, the Channel Islands and La Jolla / San Diego are workable.
- Jun
- Good at Catalina Island, the Channel Islands and La Jolla / San Diego.
- Jul–Oct
- Every area is good.
- Nov
- Nowhere at its best; Catalina Island, the Channel Islands and La Jolla / San Diego are workable.
- Dec
- Nowhere at its best.
Catalina Island
Plan for June to October once the water has warmed to 20 °C from 16. The marine life holds steady all year, so the weather picks the month.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January: Off season | February: Off season | March: Off season | April: Off season | May: Moderate | June: Good | July: Good | August: Good | September: Good | October: Good | November: Moderate | December: Off season |
- Water
- 15–21 °C
- Wear
- 7 mm semi-dry
- Dived from
- shore diving and day boat
- Suits
- Open Water
Known for California sea lion, Sardine
Catalina Island month by month →Channel Islands
Plan for June to October once the water has warmed to 19 °C from 15. The marine life holds steady all year, so the weather picks the month.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January: Off season | February: Off season | March: Off season | April: Off season | May: Moderate | June: Good | July: Good | August: Good | September: Good | October: Good | November: Moderate | December: Off season |
- Water
- 14–20 °C
- Wear
- drysuit
- Dived from
- liveaboard and day boat
- Suits
- experienced divers
Known for Ocean sunfish, Blue shark
Channel Islands month by month →La Jolla / San Diego
The best conditions run June to October once the water has warmed to 21 °C from 16. The marine life holds steady all year, so the weather picks the month.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January: Off season | February: Off season | March: Off season | April: Moderate | May: Moderate | June: Good | July: Good | August: Good | September: Good | October: Good | November: Moderate | December: Off season |
- Water
- 15–22 °C
- Wear
- 7 mm semi-dry
- Dived from
- shore diving and day boat
- Suits
- Open Water
Known for Sardine, California sea lion
La Jolla / San Diego month by month →Monterey
Plan for July to October once the water has warmed to 15 °C from 13. The marine life holds steady all year, so the weather picks the month.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January: Off season | February: Off season | March: Off season | April: Off season | May: Off season | June: Moderate | July: Good | August: Good | September: Good | October: Good | November: Off season | December: Off season |
- Water
- 12–16 °C
- Wear
- drysuit
- Dived from
- shore diving
- Suits
- experienced divers
Known for Ocean sunfish, Blue shark
Monterey month by month →Diving in California: common questions
- When is the best time to dive California?
- It depends which area. The season peaks June–October at Catalina Island, the Channel Islands and La Jolla / San Diego, and July–October at Monterey.
- Can you dive California all year?
- Not everywhere at once. Counting all 4 areas, 5 months of the year have somewhere at its best; the rest are workable but off peak.
- How warm is the water in California?
- 12 to 22 °C across the year, depending on the area and the month. Each area's page gives its own month-by-month temperatures.
- Which part of California suits a beginner?
- The Open Water sites are Catalina Island and La Jolla / San Diego. The one that asks for more experience is the Channel Islands.
- Can you dive California from the shore?
- Yes, at Catalina Island, La Jolla / San Diego and Monterey. At the Channel Islands it is boat only.
- What can you see diving in California?
- The headline animals are California sea lion, sardine, ocean sunfish and blue shark. Each area's page lists everything recorded near it, with the months it was seen.